Jewelry.



H. H. LOTT.

JEWELRY.

APPLKCATION nuzo DEC. I7, 1915.

1,1 92,918. Pat ented Aug. 1,1916.

I A Hill sum/[Ann n. LOTT, OF ST. Louis, MISSOURI.

JEWELRY.

Sp cifiqatien of batt r re en Application filed December 17, 1915.Serial No. 67,5117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN H. LOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Jewelry, being a continuation ofmy application for Letters Patent for link for bracelets or the like,filed May 24, 1915, Serial No. 30,022, and also of my application forLetters Patent for jewelry, filed October 14, 1915, Serial No. 55,910,as to all matter common to the several applications, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates generally to jewelry and, more particularly, tocertain new and useful improvements in jewelry of that class or kindknown as bracelets or wristornaments.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide, as jewelryarticles, so called links,'especially adapted and designed for braceletsor the like, and separable connecting-members therefor, theconnectingmembers and links being detachably enga geable and the links,through said connectingmembers, being not only easily interchangeablylockingly attachable one to the other in forming the completed orfinished bracelet, but also readily detachable, when desired, one fromanother, and by means of which connecting-members either individuallinks or a plurality of connected links may be conveniently threadedupon, and displayed attractively upon the wrist by, a ribbon or otherflexible band.

lVith the above and other objects in view, my present invention residesin certain novel features of form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterwardpointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawing, which shows my invention in preferred form,Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bracelet formed of orcomprising links and connecting-members embodying my invention; Figs. 2,3, 4, and 6 are plan views of the several complementing or cooperatingparts forming, when assembled, the completed or finished link proper;Fig. 5 is a plan view of the link connecting-member or strap; Fig. 7 isan inverted plan view of the link proper with the outer or back-platethereof removed; Fig. 8 is a similar view, also illustrating" a pair ofconnecting-members or straps 'in attached relation with the link; Fig. 9is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the links, illustratingin side elevation portions or fragments of additional links in attachedrelation therewith; Fig. 10 is a view partly in side elevation andpartly in longitudinal section of one of the links, illustrating inconnection with the link a portion of one of the connecting-members anda link-disengaging tool in opera tive applied position prior to actualdisengagement of'the connecting-member from the link; Fig. 11 is asimilar view of the link, showing a connecting-member in side elevationremoved therefrom; Fig. 12 is an inverted plan view of one of the linksand a pair of connecting-members in connection with and threaded upon adisplaying-ribbon or band; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of a connectedpair of the links; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the toolpreferably employed by me in disengaging or detaching the link andconnecting-member or s rap- Referring to the said drawing, in which likereference characters refer to like'parts' through the several views, Aindicates one of the bracelet-links, which is preferably approximatelyrectangular in shape and slightly curved or arched longitudinally. Thelink A comprises or includes a bodymember, shell, or casing preferablyof any suitable metal stamped or cupped to provide an outer top portionor wall 1, upon which in the finished link may appear any suitable ordesirable design, ornamentation, or the like, and laterally disposed orflanged sideportions or walls 22, and end-portions or Patented Aug. 1,1916.

walls 3 3, both end walls 3 being cut-away,

as at 4, for purposes soon to appear.

Fitting flatwise snugly within the bodymember or shell of the link andupon the under or inner face of top wall 1 thereof, is a plate 5preferably of sheet metal. Provided in plate 5 adjacent its oppositeends and preferably integrally, as by punching or the like, is a pair ofoppositely disposed connecting-member engaging-springs 66, each of saidsprings obliquely facing toward the longitudinal center of the link andhaving its free end yieldingly presented outwardly away from saidbody-member or shell.

Fitting fiatwise upon plate 5 within the confines of the shell orbody-member of the link, is a second plate 7 approximately H- shaped inplan view, as seen particularly in Fig. 1, plate 7 being cut-away at itsopposite ends to provide a pair of oppositely-disposed approximatelyU-shaped guide-frames embracing and surrounding the springs 6 of plate5, as seen particularly in Fig. 7. As seen especially in Figs. 7 and 8,the legs of said guide-frames are presented outwardly toward thecut-away portions or openings 1- in the end walls 3 of the shell of thelink, the said guide-frames provided by plate 7 each having a widthapproximately the same as the width of said openings 1. Also snuglyfitting flatwise within the confines of the shell of the link and uponand covering plate 7 with its said guide-frames, is a shellclosing plateor wall 8, the side and end walls 2 and 3 of the shell being crimped orinturned upon the outer face of wall or plate 7 ative positionrelatively to springs 6 of plate 5, outer plate or wall 8 is provided,for purposes shortly appearing, with a pair of suitable perforations orapertures 9 9.

10 indicates the connecting-member for the links, this member or strapcomprising a pair of approximately rectangular flat portions or parts1111 hingedly fastened together at one end, as at 12. Strap 10 isadapted to slidably fit snugly, but removably, at either of its saidportions 11 within either of the said guide-frames of the link, eachstrap-portion 11 being cut away within its area to provide an enlargedopening or aperture 13 adapted, when such strap-portion is within thelink, as shown in Fig. 8, to overlie a spring 6 of plate 5. Tofacilitate the removal or withdrawal of each strap portion 11 fromwithin the link, the inner edge of its aperture 13 is recessed, as at14, thereby also providing corners or shoulders 15 projecting inwardlyrelatively to aperture 13.

In use or operation, links A being constructed as described. to attach alink A to a second link A, a part 11 of a connectingmember 10 is endwiseslidably inserted through the opening 4: at one end of the first link Ainto the presented guide-frame thereof. In such movement, saidstrap-part 11 first rides upon, and thereby depresses, the

' particular spring 6 of such guide-frame;

said spring 6 afterward, when said strapportion 11 has been fullyinserted within, and embraced by, said guide-frame, projects obliquelyinto the aperture 18 of said strapportion 11 and engages With saidcorners or shoulders 15 of the strap-portion 11. Then the other or freestrap-portion 11 of said connecting-member 10 is correspondingly orsimilarly engaged with the second link A, the two links A being therebydetachably locked hingedly together. To detachably disconnect the linksor a link A from a connecting-member 10, I preferably employ the tool Billustrated in Fig. 1%. This tool B is Provided at its forward end witha depending flange 16, and projecting outwardly from said flange atpreferably the center thereof is a small stud or pin 17. This pin 17 ofthe tool B is adapted to be inserted through either aperture 9 of theouter or back-plate 8 of the link to depress the corresponding spring (3out of engagement with the shoulders 15 to release the particularstrap-portion 11. Tool. B remaining in its described operativeengagement with the link, the said strap-portion 11 cannot be at onceentirely disconnected or detached from the link, due to the engagementof tool B at its pin 17 with said strap-portion; the con nectingstrap-portion 11, however, may now, due to said recesscontinuation 14 ofaperture 13 of the strap-portion, be moved outwardly relatively to thelink a limited distance depending upon the depth of said re cess 1 1.The connecting strap-portion 1.1 belng so moved outwardly, the shoulders15-15 thereof will ride upon the said spring 6 and thereby, on tool Bbeing now removed from engagement with the link and also with saidstrap-1 ortion, hold said spring 6 in depressed or unlocking position,whereupon. as will be evident, the connecting strap portion may beentirely detachably disconnected or disengaged from the link. It willthus be seen that while a link A and a connecting-member 10 are readilyand easily detachably connected, the same are, when in operativeconnection one with the other, firmly and securely locked together andthat they cannot be detachably disconnected or separated except bypositive operation on the part of the wearer or user. Any desired numberof links A may thus be readily detachably connected by means of theconnecting-members 10 to form a complete or finished bracelet of therequired size, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the bracelet so formed being,due to the hinges 12 of the connecting-members 10, exceedingly flexibleto meet all requirements. The connecting-member 10 is also useful inadapting either an individual link A or a plurality of connected links Ato recei e a displaying ribbon or band C, whereby such individual orconnected links may be attractively displayed upon the wrist, theapertures 13 of the pro jecting strap-portions 11 of the twoconnecting-members 10 at the opposite end of such link, as illustratedin Fig. 12, or at the opposite or free ends of the several connectedlinks, as will be well understood, providing passages through which thedisplaying ribbon or band may be easily and conveniently threaded.

WVhile I have hereinshown and described my invention as a bracelet-link,for which use it is especially adapted and designed, it is to beunderstood that-the same may equally well be applied to other jewelryarticles or the like, and that changes in the form, construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts thereof may be madeand substituted for those herein shown and de scribed without departingfrom the nature and principle of my invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is;

1. In a jewelry article, a pair of links, each of said links includingspaced apart top and back walls and side walls there between and each ofsaid links having an opening thereinto at its end, and means fordetachably fastening said links together, said means including aconnecting-member having portions adapted to removably fit within eachof said respective links.

2. In a jewelry article, a pair of links, each of said links includingspaced apart top and back walls and side walls therebetween and each ofsaid links having an opening thereinto at its end, and means fordetachably fastening said links together, said means including aconnecting-member having portions adapted to removably fit within eachof said respective links, each of said links being adapted forreleasable engagement with said portions of the connecting-member.

3. In a jewelry article, a pair of links, each of said links includingspaced apart top and back walls and side walls therebetween and each ofsaid links having an opening thereinto at its end, and means fordetachably fastening said links together, said means including aconnecting member having apertured portions adapted to removably fitwithin each of said respective links, and springs carried by said linksadapted to project into the apertures of, and releasably engage with,said portions of the connecting-member when the same are within thelinks.

a. In a jewelry article, a pair of approximately rectangular links, eachof said links including spaced apart top and back walls and side wallstherebetween and each of said links having an opening thereinto at itsend, and means for detachably fastening said links together, said meansincluding a connecting-member having apertured approximately rectangularportions adapted to removably fit within each of said respective links,and depressible springs carried by said links adapted to project intothe apertures of, and releasably engage with, said portions of theconnecting-member when the same are within the links, each of said linksbeing provided with an aperture in its mit withdrawal of the same fromthe links.

5. In a jewelry article, a pair of links, each of said links including abQdy-portion comprising top, side, and end-walls, a back Wall fixed osaid side and end walls and spaced from said top-Wall, and a guide framewithin the body-por ion int rmed ate said top and back walls, anend-wall of the body-portion being cut away to provide an opening intosaid guide-frame, and means for detachab y asteni g said l nks t0--gether, said means including a connecting member having aperturedportions adapted o removably fit within th respective guideframes ofsaid links, and depressible springs within eaehof said links adapted toproject into the apertures of, and releasably engage with, the portionsof said connecting-memher when the same are within said guideframes,each of said links being provided with an aperture in its back wall toreceive independent means to engage with said springs to depress thesame out of engagement with said portions of the connectingmember topermit withdrawal of the same from the links.

6. In a jewelry article, a pair of links, each of said links includingspaced apart top and back walls and side walls there between and each ofsaid links having an opening thereinto at its end, and means fordetachably fastening said links hingedly together, said means includinga connecting member comprising .a pair of oppositely disposed portionshinged together, said portions being adapted to removably fit withinsaid links.

7 In a jewelry article, a pair of approximately rectangular links, eachof said links including spaced apart top and back walls and side wallstherebetween and each of said links having'an opening thereinto at itsend, and means for detachably fastening said links hingedly together,said means includ ing a connecting-member comprising a pair ofoppositely disposed approximately rectangular portions hinged together,said p0rtions being adapted to removably fit within said links.

8. In a jewelry article, a pair of approximately rectangular links, eachof said links including spaced apart top and back walls and side and endwalls therebetween, and a guide-frame within the link intermediate saidtop and back walls, an end wall of the link being cut away to provide anopening into the guideframe, and means for fastening said links hingedlytogether, said means including a connecting-member comprising a pair ofoppositely disposed approximately rectangular portions hinged together,said ings thereinto at its opposite ends, and a link connecting-membercomprising a pair of oppositely disposed portions, either of sa1dportions being adapted to fit removably in the link at either of itsends.

10. In a jewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side walls therebetween, said link having openings thereintoat its opposite ends, and a link connecting-member comprising a pair ofoppositely disposed portions hinged together, either of said portionsbeing adapted to fit removably in the link at either of its ends.

11. In a ewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side walls therebetween, said link having openings thereintoat its opposite ends, and a link connecting-member comprising a pair ofoppositely disposed apertured portions hinged together, either of saidportions being adapted to fit removably in the link at either of itsends.

12. In a jewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side and end walls therebetween and a pair of oppositelydisposed guide-frames within the link intermediate said top and backwalls, the link being cut-away at its opposite end walls to provideopenings into said guideframes, a link connecting-member comprising apair of oppositely disposed apertured portions hinged together, eitherof said portions being adapted to fit rem-ova-bly in the link at eitherof its said guide-frames, and springs within the link yieldinglyprojecting into said guide-frames, said springs being adapted,respectively, to engage with the portion of the connecting member withinthe link to releasably fasten the same to the link.

13. In a jewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side walls therebetween, said link having openings thereintoat its opposite ends, and connecting members fitting in the oppositeends of said link and having apertured portions projecting exteriorlythereof.

1 1. in a jewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side walls therebetween, and connecting-members fitting in theopposite ends of said link, each of said connecting-members having anapertured hinged portion projecting exteriorly of the link.

15. In a jewelry article, a link comprising spaced apart top and backwalls and side walls therebetween, and a connecting member having ahinge-portion fitting within and engaged by said link and an aperturedportion projecting exteriorly of the link.

16. In a jewelry article, a link com-prising spaced apart top and backwalls and side and end walls therebetween, and a guideframe intermediatesaid top and back walls, an end wall of the link being cut away toprovide an opening into said guide-frame, and a connecting-member havinga portion fitting in. said guide-frame and fastened to the link and asecond apertured portion projecting longitudinally exteriorly of thelink.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HER-MANN H. LOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

